Washington D.C., May 3, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- A
new study released by the Harvard School of Public Health challenges
the authenticity of pledges made by adolescents to abstain from
premarital sex until marriage.

According to
Concerned Women for America (CWA), the study attempts to belittle
virginity pledges by claiming that adolescents who make pledges to save
sex for marriage break their vows within the first year, and that those
who relent to premarital sex are more likely to claim that they never
made a virginity vow in the first place.

“This new
‘finding’ by Harvard is misleading and deceptive,” chided Janice
Crouse, CWA’s senior fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute. “This
study is in direct contradiction with the trends we have been seeing in
recent years –– both teen pregnancies and teen abortions are down, and
evidence indicates these trends are related to increased abstinence
among teens.

“Those who make
virginity pledges have shown greater resolve to save sex for marriage.
At the same time, those who have not made a conscious decision to
abstain from sex are more likely to engage in premarital sexual
activity,” Crouse said in a written release.

“The Harvard
report is wrong,” said Crouse. “I know numerous couples who have saved
sex for their wedding night. Research is clear –– that it is the best
recipe for marital happiness and well-being. Abstinence until marriage
is a beautiful promise that should be encouraged and promoted.”